Paralympic Dream Begins for Rollers and Gliders
Basketball Australia has named the Rollers and Gliders teams that will do battle at the London Paralympic qualifier next month, with a number of big names included to ensure Australia’s passage to next year’s Paralympic Games.
Headlining the Rollers are star players Tristan Knowles, Dylan Alcott and the Paralympic gold medal winning quartet of Justin Eveson, Brad Ness, Shaun Norris and Michael Hartnett, while Kylie Gauci and Cobi Crispin return to action for the Gliders, along with Bridie Kean and WAIS scholarship holders Amber Merritt, Sarah Vinci and Clare Burzynski.
Both teams need to finish in the top two at the Asia Oceania Regional Championships in Goyang, South Korea in order to secure their spots at the London Games. The Asia Oceania Regional Championships will run from 4-11 November, 2011.
The Rollers and the Gliders are the reigning Asia Oceania Zone Champions, following wins at the 2009 Championship, which was held in Dandenong, and while Senior National Coach of the Wheelchair Program, Jan Stirling is confident both sides can qualify, she is not taking anything for granted.
“We think we have a good balanced group and we certainly go in as best prepared as we can. We know that China is a country on the move in terms of the wheelchair game, and we always have wonderful battles with Japan so it won’t be an easy task but we’re certainly looking forward to it,” said Stirling.
According to Stirling, the home nation South Korea is an unknown and as history often shows, home-sides can cause even the favourites all kinds of problems.
“No one knows much about Korea at all and I think that’s always fraught with danger when you’re playing against a host nation in any event. So we’ve done our best to get a little bit of information on Korea. They’ve kind of been doing their preparation in house if you like so we have to be prepared to expect the unexpected with Korea,” she said.
According to Head Coach of the Rollers, Ben Ettridge, his side is looking forward to the challenge after a long and measured selection process.
“We’ve gone through some extensive trials in the last 18 months and we’ve had a good look at maybe thirty players who have come through the program at different tournaments and camps,” said Ettridge.
“Every time we get together, it’s a gauge of where we’re at. Sometimes it’s not even on the court where we’re focused – sometimes it’s off the court stuff. Given we’ve had a selection camp with 16 guys together, three or four weeks before we go, we’re hoping that we’re pretty much on song by the second or third day,” he said.
“We’re looking at a playing environment that is not like home. Korea is a very different place to play and live and eat and get around, so it will test the guys with the different challenges they’ll get thrown on a daily basis. And it’s very important for where we want to be heading because, if you get to London, you’re relying on your 12 teammates and staff members to get you through some tough spots.”
-APC